Cheteshwar Pujara in action for Indian cricket team© AFP
According to a report by Cricbuzz, Cheteshwar Pujara is unlikely to consider the BCCI selectors for the upcoming testing series against England. Both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma announced their retirement from the longest format of the game, with fans about the possible return to Pujara. However, the report claimed that the selectors and team management are not in favor of ‘back’. Instead, there may be a chance for Sarfaraz Khan or Devdutt Padikkal. “Some nonsense was that the selectors should look at Cheteshwar Pujara (37) for a place in view of the absence of seniors like Rohit and Kohli. But one belief is that there is no mood to look back to the selectors and team management,” read in the report.
The selectors will set the ball rolling in the longest format for the team’s long transition trip, when they choose a new Test captain and finalize the squad to expect a challenging five-match chain in England on Saturday.
25-year-old Shubman Gill is a clear favorite for a high-profile job as an Indian on a new World Test Championship cycle following the retirement of Stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma over a week’s interval.
By Simple Logic, Jasprit Bumrah was the vice-captain on the previous tour of Australia, and should be elevated in the role of leadership, but the question on his long-term fitness and workload management is likely to go against him.
Rishabh Pant has a forgetful IPL, but remains an important part of India’s transition phase in the test format. The selectors are likely to make him a vice-captain. Stopping leadership, no major shake-up is expected.
Although the exit of Rohit and Kohli leaves a large scale, KL Rahul’s choice can provide very important experiences in the batting department.
After the retirement of another stallwart, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja will have the major spinners, and it will be interesting to see if the selectors go with two or three spinners in English conditions.
If the number is two, Washington Sundar can find a node in front of Kuldeep Yadav, who is a proven match-winner in the format.
(With PTI input)
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